A Mt. Juliet High School student was being held overnight in a Rutherford County juvenile detention facility for allegedly bringing an automatic handgun, a knife and police nightstick onto school campus Tuesday and faces a hearing before Juvenile Court Judge Barry Tatum at 8:30 Wednesday morning.

Wilson County Sheriff Terry Ashe said the weapons were found inside the 16-year-old students car Tuesday as Student Resource Officers searched his belongings. Ashe said the SROs were searching the car for an unrelated reason and indicated the search was connected to a report that the student possessed narcotics.

Ashe said the student had a .22 caliber Luger automatic handgun, a hunting knife and the nightstick in his car and was apprehended by school SROs and taken to the Rutherford County facility.

I dont have any information that indicates he brought these to school with the intention of using them, Ashe said.

The sheriff pointed out officers did not recover any ammunition for the pistol in the students car and noted the handgun could hold a maximum of 15 rounds.

This just goes to show you how valuable the SRO program is, Ashe said. He implemented the program in local schools 15 years ago.

Mike Davis, director of Wilson County Schools, said the student was apprehended when the weapons were found, and his parents were notified. He added the student was guilty of a no-tolerance offense and said he faces expulsion from school for up to one calendar year.

Despite all the things we tell them, kids continue to do some stupid things. Adults do stupid things, too. You just cant bring a gun onto a school campus, Ashe said.